Crane for rural mail-boxes.



PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906.

J. B. MELLINGER. CRANE FOR RURAL MAIL BOXES.

APPLICATION RILRD HA3. 9, 1906.

WITNES A IITORZVE Y5 15!: Nanms PETERS co-. WASHINGTON, u. c.

JOHN B. MELLINGER, OF JUNIATA, NEBRASKA.

CRANE FOR RURAL MAIL-BOXES- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. '7, 1906.

Application filed March 9,1906. Serial No. 305.180.

To all, LI/71,0170 it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. MELLINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at J uniata, in the county of Adams and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Crane for Rural Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cranes for rural mailboxes, and has for its object to provide improved means for raising and lowering the mail-box so as to permit the ready collection and delivery of mail-matter without the necessity of the driver dismounting from the wagon or other vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a standard having a mail-delivery arm pivotally mounted thereon and adapted to be swung downwardly to operative position in the path of the mail-cart, said arm being 2 movable by gravity to elevated or inoperative position.

A further object is to provide means for pivotally supporting the mail-box on the swinging arm and means for preventing ac- 2 5 cidental movement of the mail-box when the latter is moved to operative position.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve this class of devices, so as to add to their utility and durability, as well 3 as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in 3 5 the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a crane constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a per spective view of the arm-supporting lock or clasp. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the swinging arm. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the mail-box and supportingbracket, showing the means employed for preventing accidental movement of said box.

5 Similar numerals of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The improved crane consists of a pair of uprights or standards 5, embedded in the ground on one side of the roadway and spaced apart at their lower ends by a suitable block 6. Bolted or otherwise rigidly secured between the upper ends of the standards 5 is a horizontally-disposed bar 7, the short end of which is provided with a pulley or sheave 8 and connected to the standards or uprights by a diagonal brace 8.

Pivotally mounted for vertical movement between the uprights 5 is a mail-delivery arm 9, having a pair of supporting-brackets 10 secured to one end thereof, and between which is pivotally box or receptacle 12, the latter being provided with a hinged cover having a mail chute or slot formed therein, as shown.

The mailbox 12 is normally supported in substantially vertical position by means of a weight 13, secured to the short end of the arm 9, and fastened to said arm at a point ad- 'acent the weight 13 is a cord or other flexible medium 14, the free end of which passes over a pulley 15, journaled between the standards 5, and thence over the pulley 8 to a similar pulley 16, secured at any suitable manner to the long end of the horizontal bar 7, so that by exerting a longitudinal pull on the handle 17 the bar 9, carrying the mail-receptacle, may be moved to lowered or operative position.

As a means for retaining the arm 9 in lowered position a pair of spring-arms 18 is se cured to a block 19, fastened to standards 5 for engagement with a wear-plate 20, secured in any suitable manner to said arm, as shown. In order to prevent lateral movement of the mail box or. receptacle 12 while the mail carrier is de ositing or removing the mailmatter, a locfiing-bolt 21 is mounted for sliding movement on the rear wall of said receptacle for engagement with a suitable lockingrecess 22, formed in one of the supportingbrackets 10.

Under normal conditions the arm 9, carrying the mail-box receptacle, is supported in substantially vertical position, so as to permit the passage of vehicles along the road. When it is desired to collect or deliver the mail, however, the carrier exerts a longitudinal ull on the handle 17, which depresses the 1 2mg end of the arm 9 and forces the bearing-plate 20 into engagement with the springarms 18, thereby locking the arm in lowered or operative position. The bolt 21 is then moved into engagement with the recess 22 to prevent accidental tilting movement of the mail box or receptacle while the mail-matter is being delivered to or removed from the mounted at 11 the mailbox. After the mail-matter has been re' moved the bolt 21 is withdrawn from its keeper and the arm 9 tilted upwardly, so as to release the spring-arms 18 from engagement with the bearing-plate 20, said arm being movable to elevated or inoperative position by the weight 13. By having the mail box or receptacle pivotally mounted in the supporting-brackets the mail-box will be retained in vertical position regardless of the inclination of the arm 9, While by reason of the bearing-plate 20 excessive wear on the arm 9 is effectually prevented. The supporting-bracket may be made in different sizes and shapes to accommodate the different styles of maileboxes now in use, and suitable washers may be interposed between the delivery-arm and the spaced bars forming the upright, so as to reduce friction and prevent undue wear or swelling of the parts when exposed to the action of the elements.

If desired, the standard or upright may also be bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to a cement or iron post instead of being embedded in the ground, as will be readily understood. a

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided an extremely simple and inexpensive device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a standard, an arm mounted on the standard and movable vertically to elevated position, a mail-receptacle pivotally mounted on the arm, means for holding the arm in lowered position, and means for preventing swinging movement of the receptacle when the arm is moved to lowered position.

2. In a device of the class described, a standard, an arm pivotally mounted on the standard and movable vertically to elevated position, a mail-receptacle carried by the arm, and a spring-clip secured to the standard and adapted to engage the arm for holding the latter in lowered position.

3. In a device of the class described, a standard, an arm pivotally mounted on the standard and movable in a vertical plane to elevated position, supporting-brackets carried by the arm, a mail-receptacle ivotally mounted between the supportingrackets, and a locking member carried by the standard and adapted to engage the arm for holdmg the latter in lowered position.

4. In a device of the class described, a

standard, an arm pivotally mounted on the standard and movable vertically to elevated position, supporting-brackets carried by the arm, the mail-receptacle mounted for ivotalocking movement between the brackets, a member carried by the receptacle and adapted to engage one of the brackets, and means carried by the standard and adapted toengage the swinging arm for locking the latter in lowered position.

5. In a device of the class described, a standard, a horizontally-disposed bar secured to one end of the standard and having pulleys journaled thereon, an arm pivotally mounted on the standard and moved vertically to elevated position, a.mail-receptacle carried by the long end thereof, and an operating-cord secured to the short end of said arm, and passing over the pulleys on the horizontal bar for moving the arm to lowered position.

6. In a device of the class described, a standard, a horizontally-disposed bar secured to one end of the standard, rollers journaled on the bar, an arm pivotally mounted on the standard and movable vertically to elevated position, a weight secured to the short end of the arm, a mail-receptacle carried by the long end of said arm, a flexible medium secured to the arm at a point adjacent its weighted end and having its free end passing over the pulleys and provided with an operating-handle for moving thearm to lowered position, and means carried by the standards and adapted to engage the arm for lock ing the latter in lowered osition.

7. In a device of the c ass described, a pair of spaced standards, a horizontally-disposed bar secured to the standards, an arm mounted for pivotal movement between said s'tandards and movable vertically to elevated position, a wear-plate secured to the arm, a pair of spring-arms carried by the standards and adapted to engage the wear-plate for locking the arm in lowered position, a mail receptacle carried by the arm, pulleys journaled on the horizontal bar, and a cable secured to one end of the arm and having its free end engaging the pulleys for moving the arm to lowered position. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto ailixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. MELLINGER. 

